At a Glance

Explore the life of the wolf with your grandchild at the state-of-the-art International Wolf Center in Ely. Observe the eating, sleeping, and playing habits of the center’s resident pack as you explore the intricacies of lupine behavior. Howl with excitement as you learn their adaptations to survival, the dynamic interaction with prey and the complexities of wolf-human relations with expert lecturers.

Small Group

Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 10 to 24 participants.

Best of all, you'll ...

Follow wolf tracks, search for wolf scat to prove their elusive presence, and learn the habits of their favorite prey.

Go on a field trip to track wolves with radio telemetry equipment just like wolf biologists.

Observe the fauna of Minnesota wildlife in the Superior National Forest and share a picnic with your grandchild by a waterfall.

General Notes

Program is for grandchildren ages 9-12. Due to the nature of this program, listening devices are not available.

Suggested Reading List

View 7 books

http://www.wolf.org/

by web address

The International Wolf Center advances the survival of wolf populations by teaching about wolves, their relationship to wildlands and the human role in their future.

The Wolves of Minnesota: Howl in the Heartland

by David L. Mech

Take a look at the history of wolves with a focus on the Minnesota wolf population.

The Wolf Almanac

by Robert H. Busch

This is a well written book about the wolf.

Wolves: Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation

by David L. Mech

There are few up-to-date books about wolves that combine authoritative text and great color photography. Covering everything from from the wolf's physical characteristics, habits and habitats, communication, breeding, birth and young, enemies, its relationships with humans, and its future, this comprehensive volume offers to a popular audience scientific insights and information in a readable manner. This book is available at the International Wolf Center.

Canoe Country Flora: Plants and Trees of the North Woods and Boundary Waters

by Mark Stensaas

Introduces you to 96 of the most common trees, shrubs, wildflowers, fungi, ferns, lichens, and other plants you're likely to encounter during your travels north.

The Return of the Wolf

by Steve Grooms

This is a very good and easy to read overview of wolf ecology and the wolf-human relationship.

Canoe Country Wildlife: A Field Guide to the Boundary Waters and Quetico

Afternoon: Plan to arrive at the Outdoor Learning Center between 3:30 PM and 5:00 PM. (A shuttle from Duluth is available.) Receive a finalized schedule, welcome packet and nametag during registration. Settle into your lakeside living quarters and explore our site on picturesque Fall Lake.

Dinner: Informally meet the other participants over dinner, catered on-site and eaten on the lakeside deck, weather permitting.

Evening: Your official welcome and program orientation is when you will meet your instructors and the other grandparents and grandchildren through an introductory activity.

DAY

2

International Wolf Center Field Trip / North Woods Ecology Program & Activities / Wolf Communication with Howling Field Trip

Ely, MN

B,L,D

Outdoor Learning Center

Activity note: Full exploration of the International Wolf Center requires walking relatively short distances; participants of the howling field trip should plan to walk up to a quarter-mile, but likely much less.

Breakfast: Breakfasts (and the remaining dinners) are provided by Vermilion Community College. By bus (or van), travel to the campus to enjoy a hearty breakfast.

Morning: Visit the International Wolf Center and meet one of the Center's resident packs of wolves to learn more about how wolves communicate, play, hunt and eat. Explore the spectacular Wolves and Humans Exhibit, which won awards for the Science Museum of Minnesota. Hands-on displays show the fascinating, age-old dance between wolves and humans. Learn how a wolf howls or take a turn at a wolf survival video game.

Lunch: After your morning's introduction to wolves, meet up with the rest of the group to eat a sack lunch on site at the International Wolf Center.

Afternoon: Grandparents and grandchildren learn to identify prominent trees, flowers, and geologic formations of northern Minnesota. Gain a new perspective on the interconnections of this unique ecosystem through games, demonstrations, and discussion. This session includes moderate walking.

Dinner: Over dinner at the college campus, discuss things learned in the program so far.

Evening: Howling is just one way that wolves communicate. After an introduction to several wolf communication patterns, head into the woods with a naturalist to howl to a local pack. This naturalist-led program includes an indoor introduction followed by an outdoor field trip.

Activity note: All three sessions today contain a mix of indoor lecture, and outdoor walking over somewhat rugged terrain.

Breakfast: Enjoy a hearty breakfast.

Morning: Visit the home of one wolf prey animal, the beaver. Learn how this animal, uniquely adapted to its watery environment, can successfully evade wolves and other predators much of the time. This beaver ecology and habitat field trip includes a moderate walk over some rugged terrain.

Lunch: Enjoy a noon sack lunch picnic.

Afternoon: Learn about wildlife navigation and the art and skill of orienteering as you navigate your way through the woods with the use of a compass on this afternoon program. Step-by-step instructions prepare you to keep on track as you follow the orienteering course. About an hour of free time is scheduled to follow.

Dinner: Compare notes from the day over dinner with your fellow classmates.

Evening: What do wolves around the world eat? What adaptations do wolves have to help them in capturing and eating what they do? Wolves lead a feast-and-famine existence. Learn how they can hunt enough prey to feed the pack. Session includes predator/prey games such as "Muskox Maneuvers" for grandchildren and interested grandparents.

Morning: Grandparents will explore wolf management issues, while grandchildren will pursue a number of wolf related activities and preparation for a final play performance. Wolf management has been a hot debate in Minnesota. Discuss a landmark decision-making process and learn how wolves have been managed, past and present. Uncover the complex issues of future wolf management during a group decision-making activity.

Lunch: Enjoy a noon sack lunch picnic.

Afternoon: The use of radio tracking has been a monumental improvement in the quality and quantity of wolf research. A brief discussion of research history and methods is followed by demonstration with radio collars, antennae and receivers. Try your hand at using the same equipment used by wildlife researchers. Mapping is an important part of tracking wolves. Attempt to pinpoint the location of radio-collared wild wolves after learning the fundamentals of mapping.

Dinner: Enjoy dinner.

Evening: Historically, how have people viewed the wolf? Learn of the extreme views held by different cultures. Some myths are based on truth and some on fiction. Create your own wolf myth and present it to the group. Session is followed by craft time devoted to creating wolf related projects, such as a plaster casting of a wolf track.

Activity note: Today is the most active of all the days as it includes about a mile hike over somewhat rocky and hilly terrain.

Breakfast: Enjoy a hearty breakfast.

Morning: Visualize Minnesota geology and identify common trees and wildflowers. Unfold mysteries in the signs animals leave behind. This interpretive hike to a view of the Kawishiwi Falls is about a mile in length over semi-rugged terrain.

Lunch: Enjoy a trail-side sack lunch in a beautiful spot next to a waterfall.

Afternoon: After an early afternoon return, enjoy the remainder of your afternoon pursuing activities on your own.

Dinner: Over dinner, enjoy the camaraderie of the other grandparents and grandchildren.

Evening: Return to the International Wolf Center for another observation of the resident pack. During the summer, wolves tend to be more active in the evening when the temperatures are cooler. Also have the opportunity to view the film, "Ambassador Wolf Pack".

DAY

6

Children's Wolf Performance / Wolf Jeopardy / Wrap up / Departure

Ely, MN

B,L

Breakfast: Enjoy a hearty breakfast.

Morning: While grandchildren put finishing touches on their "Wolf Performance" grandparents have about an hour of free time. Final program activities include the Children's Wolf Performance and a lively game of Wolf Jeopardy. This game is sure to be the real test of the wolf knowledge you gained over the course of the week. The wrap-up includes the opportunity for a group photo.

Lunch: The final meal included in this program is an 11:30 AM sack lunch at the Outdoor Learning Center.

Afternoon: Be checked out of your cabin by 1:00 PM.

Meals

15 Meals

5 Breakfasts

5 Lunches

5 Dinners

The following choices may be available when requested in advance: Vegetarian, Low Fat, Low Salt, Gluten Free

Lodging

Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.

Display

Jul 09, 2017 - Jul 14, 2017

Jul 09, 2017 - Jul 14, 2017

Outdoor Learning Center

5 nights

Ely

Nestled amid the forested acres of the Superior National Forest and along the shore of Fall Lake, the Ely Outdoor Learning Center was built in the 1950s as a family-run campground and now operates as a local site for education programs with terrific hiking trails and wildlife. Each of the small, rustic cabins has a living room, a bathroom, and one to three single or double occupancy bedrooms and are on the shore of Fall Lake with lake frontage. The sparse cabins are furnished simply with a stove and oven, a sink, a refrigerator in the kitchens; a sink, toilet, and shower in the bathrooms; and one of several configurations in the bedrooms with two single beds, bunk beds, or L-shaped trundle beds. No dishes are provided in the kitchen. Bathrooms may be shared by two or three participants, depending on the cabin. One cabin has a bathtub instead of a sink. One apartment available with a bathtub/shower combination. Rooms are heated with in-room thermostats. Linens, towels, and a small bar of soap are provided. Please plan to bring all of your personal toiletries. There are no hair dryers in rooms. There are no TVs or Wi-Fi access in the cabins. Wi-Fi is only available in the classroom building. We do not offer daily maid services, but fresh towels and linens are always available upon request and are put out in the dining area mid-week.

This was a magical time for me and my 10-year-old grandson. We saw a new part of our beautiful country, met interesting people and shared moments we will never forget! And we learned so much about wolves and the North Woods ecoology!

This program was interesting to both us as grandparents and to our grandson. We all learned a lot about wolves and their lifestyles. We enjoyed field trips to see dams built by beavers and to try radio tracking of wolves. The International Wolf Center provides a wealth of information about wolves as well an opportunity to see real live wolves.